The FDA has announced today that it is revoking the use of FD&C Red No. 3 because it is linked to causing cancer in lab rats (a known issue for decades and already banned in many other countries). Of course, the International Association of Color Manufacturers is upset about this, and says it safe 
. Wanna bet they’ve had a really active lobbyist or two up in Washington DC helping the FDA make decisions that impact our health for the last many years?
. Wanna bet they’ve had a really active lobbyist or two up in Washington DC helping the FDA make decisions that impact our health for the last many years?Let’s talk about Red Dye #3….. Not only does it cause cancer in lab rats, it’s also known to:
be linked to genetic changes which negatively affect immune responsecan damage liver cells and alter the DNA of liver cells within 4 hours of exposure may contribute to ADHD symptoms affect thyroid function (leading to cancer)Nontoxic red dyes have been used for thousands of years with dyes coming from natural sources: beet juice, purple sweet potatoes, and red cabbage are just three edibles and ARE currently being used as healthy food dyes.
Note: Red dye #3 is also currently used by pharma….. so anything with a pink or red tinge to it likely is suspect. According to the FDA, Pharma will not be required to phase out their use of red dye until 2028 (pharma lobbyists be lobbying over there in DC!).
Another note: Clearly, the cosmetics industry was not up on its lobbyist game back in 1990…..that’s when the FDA declined to allow Red #3 in cosmetics because it was potentially dangerous. (If you are having to reread this, I agree….. make this whole timeline make sense).
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